Lathe.



E. W.BLUIVI.

LATHE APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1913.

Patented June 15, 1915.

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[mmwww AM I M We 55425 E. W. BLUM.

LATHE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1913.

Patented June 15, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n HHHI u l H uuul n [nueior [Minewes E. W. BLUM.

LATHE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1913.

Patented June 15, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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EDWARD W. BLUM, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRADFORD MACHINE TOOL COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A 00- ORATION OF OHIO.

LATHE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed June 21, 1913. I Serial No. 774,979.

T all 00/1 out it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. BLUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to lathes in which the driving means consists either of a constant or variable speed motor, or a single pulley rotating at a constant speed, and means for engaging different geared driving mechanisms, means for interlocking these geared driving mecha nisms with reference to each other, also means for engaging or disengaging the primary driving means and features of construction in general and in particular involved in this construction. 7 I

The object of my invention is to provide driving means to obtain different lathe spindle speeds quickly while the lathe is in operation and without interfering with or reducing the driving power of the lathe when changing from one spindle speed to another.

With these objects and purposes in View, my invention consists in the parts as well as intheir peculiar construction and relationsliip to each other as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention: Figure. 1 is a front elevation of the head end of the lathe. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional gear layout. Fig. 4: is a plan view partly in section, showing the change-speed gear shifting device. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the changespeed gear shifter lever and socket. Fig. 6 is a. perspective view of one of the changespeed gear shifter forks. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of part of the starting or reversing clutch shifting mechanism. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the locking plunger operating collars. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the back-gear clutch fork. Fig. 10 is an end elevation similar to 2. but shows the lathe with a single pulley belt driving means, instead of the motor .driving means. Fig. 11 is a sectional detail of the init'al driving shaft provided with the single dulley for a belt.

The series of gear driving mechanisms is best seen in Fig 3 where all of he shafts and gears are represented in section on a single plane for sake of clearness. The spindle 1 of the lathe has the pin- 1011 2 and gear 3 secured together and loosely mounted on it and fixed together along with a friction clutch member 4. Another gear 5, is loosely mounted on the spindle and this gear has positive clutch teeth 6. Between the two gears is splined a clutch member 7 one end of which is inclined to operate the friction clutch 4L, and the other end of which has teeth 8 to engage with the teeth 6. The back gear sleeve 9 has the gear 1.0 and the back gear pinion 11 fixed on it. The back gear 10 is in mesh with the gear 2 and the back gear pinion 11 meshes with the gear 5 on the spindle 1. Accordingly as the clutch member 7 is thrown to engage the friction clutch or to engage the positive clutch, the spindle will be driven directly by the gear 3 through the friction clutch member 4, or will be driven indirectly thereby around through the pinion 2, back gear 10, back gear pinion 11, back gear 5 and positive clutch teeth (S and 8. Thus a high and a low speed are obtained by the back gear arrangement. For the higher speed the friction clutch drive is desirable, while for the low speed the positive clutch drive is more suitable, giving greater driving power for heavy work. Below the spindle is the stud 12. Fixed together are a gear 13 and a chain wheel 14, both turning loosely on this stud 12. The gear 13 meshes with the gear 3 on the spindle. The wheel 1i receives a chain belt 15, which also passes around a chain wheel 16 on the intermediate shaft 17 of the change speed mechanism, which mechanism also comprises the initial driving shaft 18 of the lathe. Said shaft 17 is vertically below the shaft 12, and the shaft 18 comes vertically below this shaft 17, in the base of the latheliead. Keyed on the shaft 17 are gears 19, 20, 21 and 22, of increasing diameters in the order mentioned. Gears 23 and 24 are fixed together and splined on the shaft 18; the gears 19 and 20 on the shaft 17 being spaced apart so that these gears 23 and 21 may occupy this space and be out of mesh with said gears 19 and 20. Similarly, gears 25 and 2-6 are fixed together and splined on the shaft 18 and the gears 21 and 22 are spaced apart so that these gears '25 and may occupy the spaces between them without meshing with them. The gears are so proportioned that if the gears 23 and 24 are slid to the left the gear 23 will mesh with the gear 19, but if they are slid to the right the gear 2 f will mesh with the gear 20. Similarly, if the gears 25 and 26 are slid to the left thegear 25 will mesh with the gear ,2], and 'ifthey are slid to the right the gear 26' will mesh with the gear Each pair 'of gears thus meshed being part with a sleeve 27 journaled in the bearing 18 and around the shaft 18, and this part carries a gear 29 integral with it. Similarly, the clutch 28 comprises a part having a sleeve 28 extending into a bearing 18 around the extreme outer part of the shaft 18. This part of the clutch 28 has a chain wheel 30 fixed on it. An intermediate shaft 31 is mounted to the rear of the shafts 17 and 18, and a gear 32 and chain wheel 33 are both fixed on an elongated hub- 34 which is loosely mounted on thevintermediate shaft 31. The gear 32 meshes with the gear 29 and also meshes with the pinion 35 of the motor 36, as shown in Fig. 3. The chain wheel 30 on the clutch 28 and the chain wheel 33 have a chain belt 37 passing around them. Thus connected to the motor, the clutch 27 will be rotated in the same direction as the motor and the clutch 28 will be rotated in the other direction. A spool 38 is mounted on the shaft 18 between the two clutches and has tapered ends to engage and operate the clutch parts. Thus, if the spool be thrown to the left, the spindle 1 of the lathe will be rotated in one direction, and if the spool be thrown to the right the spindle will be rotated in the other direction.

Where only a single pulley is used, as shown in Figs.v 10 and 11, the pulley 39 takes the place of the gear 29 inthe clutch 27,

having the sleeve 27 a turning in the bearing 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. This single pulley arrangement is, as here shown,

simply designed for-driving the machine in one direction. Accordingly the spool 40 is mounted on the shaft 18, and this shaft is continued only far enough to carry a collar 41, retaining the spool 40 on the shaft. The spool has" one tapered end and this engages the parts of the clutch 2 to cause the shaft 18 to turn with the pulley 39. When the clutch is thrown out the machine is stopped. Reverse helt-driving-means may also be provided, similar to the motor driving-means; in any case where forward and reverse driving'mechanisms are provided, the machine is stopped when the spool 38 is held in mid position. As shown in 10, the single pulley 39 is driven from a pulley 42 on the line shaft by a belt 43 passing under idlers 44 and 45, to the rear of the pulley 39, so that the driving belt 43 is kept to the rear of the upper mechanism of the lathe.

For shifting the clutch member 7, to make the back gear changes. a fork 46 extends up into the annular groove 47 of the member 7, being mounted on a transverse shaft 48 that extends out of the front of the lathe head, and having an arm -19 fixed on it. The free end of this arm has a slot 50, within which engages a pin 51, fixed in the short arm of a bell-crank lever 52 pivoted on the front of the lathe head. The long arm of this bell crank has a handle 53. The bell-crank 52 and the arm 49 thus provide compound leverage, rendering the operation of the back gear clutch easy and certain.

The spool 38 for the motor driving 1nechanism has an annular groove 54, and, as best seen in Fig. 4, a fork 55 engages in this .groove and is fixed on a. shifter bar 56 sliding longitudinally of the machine, bearing at one end in the side of the casing 57 which is provided around the motor-drivingmechanism and bearing at the other end in a bracket 58 at the other end of the casing 59, which makes up part of the base of the lathe head, and incloses the change-speed mechanism before described. About midway between its bearings, this shifter bar 56 hasa block 60 fixed on it, and a link 1 is pivoted to the block and to one armof the bell-crank lever (52, which is fulcrumed on the back of the lathe-head base above the shifter bar. The other arm of the bellorank has a slot (33 near its free end and a second bell-crank lever 64 has a. pin 65 projecting into the slot 63; this bell-crank 64 being fulcrumed on a stud 66 extending rearwardly from the back of the lathe head. The two bell-cranks 2 and 64- provide compound leverage for facilitating the starting, stopping and reversing of the lathe. The other arm of the bell crank extends upward, and the rod 67 is pivoted to its free end, this rod extending longitudinally at therear of the lathe, where it may be conveniently grasped by the operator.

For 0 crating the speed change mecha nism, a ork 68 engages the gear 23, and a fork '69 engages the gear 25. Each fork extends out into the slide casing 7 0 on the front of the casing 59. This slide-casing has guide rods 71 and 72 extending throughout its length. The fork 68 has a part 73 that extends along the rod 71 and is slidable therealong. The free end of this part 73 has a part with a forwardly opening recess 74. The fork 69 has a part 75 that extends. along the rod 7 2 and is slidable therealong, and the free end of this part 7 5 has a part with a rearwardly opening recess 76.

The gear-shifting lever 77 extends down through the slide casing 70 and is constructed to swing in vertical planes at right angles. This is accomplished by pivoting the lever-socket 78, below the slide-casing 70, on a stud 7 9 in the base,'to swing through a vertical plane parallel with the lathespindle axis, and then pivoting this lever 77 in this lever-socket 78 on a pin 80, so that the lever proper can swing in the leversocket 78 in the transverse vertical plane. The swinging of this lever 77 in its socket, in this transverse vertical plane, is controlled by a flat spring 81, extending up from a clamp 82 on the side of the lever-socket 7 8 and engaged in a split stud 83 that is fixed in the lever 77 and extends throu h a seg- 9' mental slot in the side ofthe socket 8. This spring 81 thus tends to normally maintain the lever 77 in mid position transversely.

The top of the slide casing has an H- shaped slot 84, the parallel members of it running longitudinally of the casing and the transverse member of it receiving the lever 77 when it is in mid-position both as regards its longitudinal and its transverse planes of swinging. The parts are so proportioned that the recesses 74 and 76 of the parts of the forks 68 and 69 will face each other and will be in alinement with this transverse part of the H-slot when the change-speed gears are held in unmeshed position, so that if the lever 77 is swung in its transverse plane rearwardly it-will enter the recess 74 of the end part of the fork 68, but if it is swung forwardly it will enter the recess 76 of the end part of the fork 69. The ll't-slot is so proportioned that its parallel members will lie over the lines of movement of the recesses 74 and 76 of the forks 68 and 69 respectively. Thus when the lever 77 is swung. over into the recess 74 or the recess 76 this lever may then be swung longitudinally of the machine either to the right or to the left and will move therespective gears accordingly.

The lever-socket 78, near its upper end and at its rear side, is provided with an extension 85, and this extension and the region of the rear of the lever-socket adjacent to it are provided with three holes or recesses 86, 87 and 88 corresponding to the left, middle and right positions of the leversocket and lever 77 longitudinally of the ma chine. .To enter any one of these three recesses, a locking-plunger 89 slides transversely of the machine, bearing forwardly in a bracket 90 and rearwardly in part of the bracket 58 that supports the shifter bar 56. Bearing against the rear side of the bracket 90 is a helical spring 91, surrounding the plunger 89 and adjustably confined by nuts 92 on the plunger.

will allow the plunger 89 to remain in baclo ward position as long as the shifter rod 56 with its fork 55 holds the clutch spool 38 in mid position, so that the machine is not being driven: In order to shift the rod 56 V to start the machine in one direction or the other the plunger 89 must enter one of the three holes in the lever-socket 78, because it will be forced forward by the bevels of the operating collar 95 or 96. When the plunger thus engages in one ofthese holes it will hold the change speed gears in mesh and will prevent shifting of these gears while the machine is being driven.

By the action of the spring 81 the change speed lever 77 will be caused to automatically take up its position in the transverse part of the HI-slot 84 as soon as the lever arrives in mid position along either one of the'parallel parts of said Hl-slot.

With the single-pulley belt-drive, shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the plunger 89 will be al lowed to remain out of the holes in the lever casing when the clutch spoolis thrown out, releasing the shaft 18 from the pulley 39, but will be thrown in as soon as this spool is shifted to start the machine. In this case,

. only the collar 96 is needed on the shifter upper head of the lathe is beneficial in that it obviates unsteadiness and chattering in the operation of the lathe spindle, so that the operation of the lathe at various speeds with gear drives is just as satisfactory in this respect as with changeable belt drive.

A controller 97, for varying the speed of the motor, is mounted on the front of the lathe-head'base, close to the change-speed lever 77, so that it and this lever are both conveniently accessible to the operator.

By locating the change-speed mechanism in the base of the lathe-head and providing it with suitable operative connection with the mechanism in the lathe-head, as has been described, a great saving in the length of the lathe is effected. Furthermore, the mounting of the motor to the rear of the lathe-head base and providing it with suitable operative connection with said changespeed mechanism, as described, adds to this advantage in the saving of length. Some lathes have been designed with change-speed mechanism, or motor, 01: both, arranged in tandem with the spindle, so adding to the length of the lathe-head itself that this part of the lathe is highly disproportionate to the space between centers. Such a lathe is highly objectionable where shop space is limited, and especially sowhere the lathe is needed only for turning short pieces. '-The change-speed mechanism itself, involving only sliding gears, is simpler and more reliable than any involving a changing of gears by swinging movements, or with clutches or other complicated mechanism.

By the combined use of two levers, eight speeds are obtained, and the operation of these levers is extremely simple. The change-speed lever, with its four positions in the different parts of the H-slot, and the back gear lever on the head, with its right and left position,'ofi'er no serious difficulty to the operator and are very easily indexed to guide the operator in securing the desired speeds. The speed changes being so quickly and easily made, the operator is more certain to use the most efiicient speed, thus adding to the advantages of use of the entire lathe.

With all the convenience of use of the speed change levers, breakage is effectually guarded against by the locking device for the change-speed lever. Where there is no positive locking device, and a mere injunction to the operator against shifting the parts while the lathe is running, wrecking of the lathe may occur at any time, even under the care ofthe most skilful operator.

By providing the reverse mechanism in connection with the motor, the motor is allowed to run always in the same direction, which is of greater advantage in the electrical equipment.

The number of different speeds mechanically afiorded is ample under most conditions, and when the variable speed motor with controller is provided, a very great number of speeds is obtained, without complication and with assurance against breakage or disarrangemenjt.

'While I have shown and described certain details specifically, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to the exact illustrat'ions and description, but

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lathe, a spindle, a head carrying the spindle, a base for the head, change 'speed mechanism carried in the base and comprising the initial driving element of the lathe, operative connection between the change speed mechanismin the base and the spindle in the head, driving means for the spindle in said base, separate elements in the base reversely driven by the driving means, and a clutch in the base to connect either of said elements with the initial driving means.

2. In a lathe, a spindle, a head carrying the spindle, a base for the head, change speed mechanism carried in the base and comprising the initial driving shaft and an intermediate shaft, gears on the initial driving shaft and gears on the intermediate shaft, means for meshing the respective gears on the two shafts, operative connection from the intermediate shaft in the base to the spindle in the head, driving means for the spindle, operative connection from the driving means to the initial driving shaft and means for engaging and disengaging said operative connection.

3. In a lathe, a spindle, gears fixed together and turning loosely on the spindle, another gear turning loosely on the spindle and a shiftable clutch member on the spindle to turn therewith, a friction clutch carriedby the two gearsfixed together, said clutch member having a surface to engage and actuate said friction clutch, positive clutching means carried by the other gear, and positive clutching means on said clutch member to engage with the means on said other gear, a back gear member, a back gear turning with said member and meshing with one of the gears fixed together on the spindle, a back gear pinion on said member meshing with said gear on the spindle having the positive clutching means, a head in which said spindle and said back gear member are mounted, a gear and a wheel fixed together, and mounted in said head, the gear meshing with the other one of the gears fixed together on the spindle, a base for said head, change speed mechanism carried in the base and comprising an initial driving shaft and an intermediate shaft, a wheel turning with the intermediate shaft, flexible connecting means from the wheel on the intermediate shaft in said base to the wheel fixed together with said gear in'the head, gears fixed on the intermediate shaft, each two adjacent ones of said gears being spaced apart, gears slidable on the initial driving shaft to turn therewith, each two adjacent ones of these gears being fixed together and adapted to come between the spaced-apart gears on the intermediate shaft to be out of mesh therewith, but to slide into mesh with one or the other of them respectively, and

means for driving said initial driving shaft..

4. In a lathe, a spindle, a head carrying the spindle, a base for said head, driving means for the spindle, change speed mechanism-carried in said base comprising the initial driving element of the spindle, and a single flexible operative connection between miatea the change speed mechanism in the base and the driving mechanism of the spindle in the head, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a lathe, a spindle, a head carrying 5 the spindle, a base for said head, geared driving means for the spindle, geared change speed mechanism carried in said base and comprising the initial driving element of the spindle, and flexible connection 10 between said change speed mechanism in the base and said driving mechanism of the spindle in the head, for the purposes set forth.

6. In a lathe, a spindle, a head carrying the spindle, a base carrying the'head, initial driving means for the spindle mounted in the lower part of the base, operative connection from the initial driving means to the spindle and contained in said base and head, and driving connection tothe initial driving means, extending therefrom below and to the rear of said head. and spindle and outside said base and head, for the purposes set forth.

' EDWARD W. BLUM.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW. 

